Stems straight, erect or nearly so (or leaning), cylindric, (20-)45-150(-300) × (20-)25-40(-50) cm; ribs (18-)21-31, shallowly notched immediately above each areole. Spines 12-32 per areole, central spines and larger radial spines whitish, yellow, pink, dull red, or brown; smallest spines per areole slender, sometimes bristlelike, less than 1 mm diam. (rarely absent); central spines 4 per areole, major rigid central spines surrounded by weaker subcentral spines; principal central spine moderately curved, sometimes twisted, usually not strongly hooked except on relatively young plants, annulate, adaxial surface usually flat or even concave, 36-140[-170] × 2-4.5 mm. Flowers maroon outside, yellow inside, 3-6 × 4-6 cm; inner tepals commonly yellow, (rarely with reddish midstripes, very rarely orange to red with a darker red midstripes); stigma lobes yellow (to red). Fruits ± readily dehiscent through basal pore, bright yellow (very rarely reddish), 30-40(-50) × 15-20 mm, leathery or fleshy, locule dry, hollow except for seeds. Seeds (1.5-)2-3 mm, pitted. 2n = 22. Flowering early spring-early summer (late summer-early fall). Interior chaparral, Mojave desert scrub, Sonoran desert scrub, usually on rocky slopes, igneous and limestone substrates; 0-1500 m; Ariz., Calif., Nev., Utah; Mexico (Baja California, Sonora). The name Ferocactus acanthodes has been widely applied to this species but was based on a small plant of unknown origin (and the original specimen lost), and is therefore ambiguous (N. P. Taylor 1979). The vernacular name 'compass barrel' is sometimes misapplied to Ferocactus cylindraceus , which grows straight up in its old age, instead of leaning as would F. wislizeni.

The varieties recognized by L. D. Benson (1982) are not consistently distinguishable.

Plant: Stem 10-30 dm, generally taller than wide, spheric or columnar; ribs 18-27; tubercles inconspicuous Leaves: spines 10-18, dense, erect and spreading, longest recurved, generally with some red, becoming gray Flowers: bisexual, sessile, ± radial, 3-6 cm diam; perianth parts yellow with red base; ring of hairs separating perianth and stamens; ovary densely scaly, 9-12 mm, scales fringed, style 12-20 mm Fruit: 1-2 cm diam, scaly, yellow, opening by a pore near base; Seed 1-3 mm, black, pitted; scar basal Misc: Gravelly, rocky, or sandy areas; 60-1500 m.